Sitting just south of Cinque Terre National Park and within a protected natural region, Portovenere is a gateway for exploration. In the village, colorful houses climb the rocky shoreline beneath the watch of the Gothic Church of St. Peter. Wander through the medieval lanes of the old town, where artisan shops and family-run cafés are tucked between centuries-old stone buildings or set out by boat to explore hidden coves and the nearby islands.
Rising from the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Italy, Ponza is an island sculpted from the ridges of underwater mountains, crested with winding roads that connect small villages with swimmable bays and natural grottoes. Fresh seafood pulled from the surrounding waters makes it to the tables of the harbor’s trattorias for lunch, and small boutiques tempt with pastel linens and bottles of white wine made of grapes harvested from the island’s terraced vineyards.
On the northwest edge of Sicily at the foot of Mount Erice sits the lively and historic port of Trapani. With its crescent-shaped coastline and crystal-clear waters, Trapani is most definitely an island destination, while its cafés, cathedrals and castles make it also distinctly Italian. Marked by the iconic windmills of Sicily, giant salt fields span from Trapani down the coast to neighboring Marsala, and a museum tells the history of the region’s production of celebrated sea salts.
Loved by Italian urbanites yet little known outside Rome, this insider escape on the Monte Argentario peninsula is a harbor of bobbing megayachts and restaurants that rival the mainland. Steep cliffs tumble into crystalline seas and secret coves, all presided over by the 17th-century Spanish-built Fortezza Spagnola. Venture out to explore Argentario’s hidden bays and headlands, looking for Roman-built villas as you take in the view to islands in the distance, the start of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
Lipari, the largest of the seven Aeolian Islands, tempts with simple pleasures: a sun-soaked afternoon at Ponente Beach channeling the country’s famous dolce far niente, or a stroll along the harborfront, gelato in hand. Settled since 5,000 BC for its gleaming black obsidian, it later became a Carthaginian naval base, fell to the Romans in 252 BC, and then withstood centuries of pirate raids that left the acropolis crowned with towering walls.
Nestled on the eastern edge of the beautiful Amalfi Coast, the town of Salerno offers a blend of rich history and modern Italian charms. The historic city center is a maze of cobbled streets, vibrant piazzas and landmarks like the 11th-century Salerno Cathedral, a pilgrimage site believed to house relics of Saint Matthew in its elaborate crypt adorned in brilliant frescoes. The palm-lined waterfront promenade of Lungomare Trieste invites a seaside stroll, while the hilltop Castello di Arechi provides sweeping views from above.
The city of Naples is rich in fascinating history and endless charm along with stunning scenery. With a skyline outlined by towering Mount Vesuvius, the city is bustling and brimming with natural beauty. The lemon trees and olive groves that line the hillsides along the glittering Amalfi Coast beautifully contrast the neoclassical architecture within the city.
Sitting on the edge of Europe, Palermo is a glorious mish-mash of Baroque churches, Arabesque domes, souk-like marketplaces and Gothic palaces. You’ll find yourself gazing at glittering mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, sampling cheeses at the bustling Mercato di Ballarò, viewing the largest collection of ancient anchors in the world at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, wandering serene subtropical gardens at the Orto Botanico or watching world-class opera at the Art Nouveau Teatro Massimo.
